Effective Allyship in the Workplace BY DOMINIQUE MCLEGGAN-BROWN, ESQ., FOUNDER, THE SISTERS IN LAW
Dominique McLeggan-Brown serves as a staff attorney for the Office of Public Interest Counsel within TCEQ. She is the founder and creator of The Sisters in Law, an online platform for minority women in the law which focuses on encouraging and empowering attorneys through shared stories and professional development. Visit thesistersinlaw.com for more information.
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n Aug. 11, 2020, The Sisters in Law and League of Lady Lawyers partnered to host a virtual conversation on effective allyship in the workplace. It was the first event in a three-part series on diversity, inclusion, and retention. The goal of the series is to provide an opportunity for candid dialogue and a chance to reflect on the work against racism in our profession. For Part 1 of the series, the panelists included Ayeola Williams, Dr. Priscilla Bowens, and Maria Cantú Hexsel. Each panelist provided insight on how allies play a key role in moving our profession towards equity and inclusion. Most notably, the panelists discussed not only what effective allyship looks like, but also how to detect counterproductive allyship at work. The first discussion had more than 40 participants. The Sisters in Law and League of Lady Lawyers look forward to
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continuing these conversations to spark both reflection and action. The second and third parts of the series will be held in the coming months. To receive invitations to these and other events, sign up at thesistersinlaw.com or join the League of Lady Lawyers Facebook group. The following is a transcript of the allyship panel moderated by Dominique McLeggan-Brown of The Sisters in Law and Christie Hebert of League of Lady Lawyers. Some of the responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.
allyship include: vocally supporting the work of your Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) colleagues in meetings; recommending these colleagues for billable, substantive assignments; and advocating for BIPOCs as keynote speakers. An effective ally will listen to their colleagues’ work experiences and remain open to feedback even if it is negative. Cantú Hexsel: An effective ally recognizes their position as a
What does effective allyship mean and what are the attributes of an effective ally? Williams: An effective ally is an individual who uses their privilege and power to advocate and advance the rights for underrepresented people in the workplace. An ally needs to be intentional and willing to get uncomfortable. A few ways to exercise effective
RECOMMENDED READING Caste by Isabel Wilkerson You Don’t Look Like a Lawyer: Black Women and Systemic Gendered Racism by Tsedale Melaku The Memo by Minda Harts The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
gatekeeper. Everyone is a gatekeeper. Everyone has a role as a gatekeeper in creating diversity and inclusion to bring equity. An effective ally also recognizes their place on the spectrum, whether that is color, sexual orientation, etc. I recognize my place on the spectrum because it’s not all the same. This is not to diminish my own experiences [with racism or sexism], but recognizing that [as a non-Black minority] it is different for my
